By Nathan Findlay –
This week a number of incidents and court cases have occurred across West Yorkshire, including phone scammers, a police raid in Dewsbury and the sentencing of a Kirklees gang.
Monday 19th April 2021 | Warning Issued as Scammers ‘Spoof Police Numbers
Detectives are warning people to be aware of scammers who are using police telephone numbers in their efforts to scam people.
West Yorkshire Police are currently investigating three incidents where fraudsters have ‘spoofed’ numbers found on websites to make people think that the demand for money is from genuine police officers.
Detective Inspector Leanne Walker, of West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said:
“The callers in these incidents have either claimed to be police officers or representatives of partner agencies and when people have checked the numbers, they were called from, they appear as numbers used by the force – which sadly appears to have convinced two people to transfer thousands of pounds.
“I would like to once again remind people that neither the police or any of our partner agencies would call someone to request personal banking details or ask you to transfer money to other bank accounts.”
Tuesday 17th April 2021 | Dangerous Man Jailed for 17 Years after Subjecting Two Women to Terrifying Ordeals.
James Paul, 35, from Keighley, has appeared at court to be sentenced on nine counts.
Paul attacked two women between 2016 and 2019, subjected them to multiple rape and assaults.
As of 20th April 2021, James Paul has been sentenced to 17 years in prison by a judge and a seven-year extended license.
The judge has also granted a lifetime restraining order for him and the women.
Detective Constable Julia Coates, of Bradford Safeguarding Unit, said:
“This man is incredibly dangerous and subjected two women to horrific ordeals leaving them in fear of their lives.
“They found the bravery and strength to come forward to the police and report his crimes and allowed us to investigate and ultimately take a dangerous man off the streets.”
A Keighley man who subjected 2 women to "terrifying ordeals" has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
James Paul, 35, was convicted today for five counts of rape, kidnap, false imprisonment and two assaults. #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/u5DwtpkEIf
— Heart Yorkshire News (@HeartYorkNews) April 20, 2021
Thursday 22nd April 2021 | Drugs and Car Seized in Police Raid, Dewsbury
Suspected Class A drugs and cannabis have been seized in Dewsbury in ongoing work to target street-level drug dealing.
A 32-year-old man was arrested from an address on suspicion of offences, including possession with intent to supply drugs. The male remains in custody.
Officers also recovered a vehicle and property for a forensic examination.
This operation was part of an ongoing action regarding certain drug production and supply in Dewsbury, which included closure on many different cannabis factories in 2021.
In February, officers from the Dewsbury NPT seized 602 cannabis plants from a factory on Daisy Hill, which was the ninth factory located, then shut down within eight weeks.
Friday 23rd April 2021 | Kirklees Gang Sentenced to More Than 114 Years for Double Shooting
A gang who used a tracking device to bug men they have then tried to murder have been jailed after detectives used the equipment to hunt them down instead.
The detective leading this investigation has said that those who become involved in organized crime should be prepared to pay the penalty.
Nine men have been sentenced to in excess of a combined 114 years in jail at the court on Friday 23rd April. They were sentenced for their roles in a shooting where two men were shot in a car while in a supermarket car park.
The men had placed a tracking device onto the victim’s car, which detectives were able to examine using ‘innovative digital media investigation techniques’ to identify the gang members and unravel the conspiracy.
The event itself took place during the evening of 4th November 2019. It resulted in two men (aged as of the time), 27 and 22, receiving gun-shot wounds after being shot while they were in a car.
As a result of many different inquiries, it was determined that the shooting had been coordinated by ‘Umar Ditta’ who had tried to put distance between himself and the crime.
“This was a shocking act of lawlessness, and it is only by pure good fortune these men’s actions did not result in a double murder.
A Kirklees crime gang have been jailed for a total of more than 114 years for a double shooting. Two men were shot in their car in Liversedge in 2019. A tracker had been placed on their vehicle. The victims survived the shooting. #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/pITJahRSp8
— Capital Yorks News (@CapitalYORKNews) April 23, 2021